Good news: One day after the Sooners acquired former SMU center Branson Hickman they added another veteran via the transfer site.
One day after the Sooners acquired former SMU center Branson Hickman on Sunday afternoon, they added another veteran via the transfer site.
Jermayne Lole, a former defensive lineman for Arizona State and Louisville, revealed via the transfer portal on Monday afternoon that he has committed to Oklahoma.
After sitting out the entire 2021 season at Arizona State and playing in just two games at Louisville in 2022 before sustaining a season-ending injury, Lole will begin his seventh season of collegiate football in 2024.
Lole played in just six games from 2020 to 2022 due to a variety of injuries.
Despite this, the veteran defensive tackle participated in 12 games for the Cardinals in 2023, racking up 411 snaps—the second-highest total of any season in his career. In his final season at Louisville, Lole recorded 1.5 sacks, two pass breakups, and five tackles for loss. Pro Football Focus gave him a 69.1 defensive grade for his efforts.
Lole has played in at least ten games in three different seasons of his career. The Long Beach, California, native participated in ten games as a freshman in 2018 before enjoying a breakthrough year in 2019. While playing for the Sun Devils, Lole recorded 10 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in his second season.
After playing 737 snaps as an interior defensive lineman in 2019, the former 4-star recruit earned a 75.3 defensive grade from PFF.
For Todd Bates and the team, who sorely needed to add size and experience on the interior as the Sooners prepare for the SEC, Lole is a major acquisition. OU only had one defensive player labeled as heavier than 300 pounds on the team until Lole committed.
Oklahoma’s defensive line lacks experience in the middle after veteran Jacob Lacey was forced to retire due to health concerns during the offseason, despite having potential young players in the trenches like junior Gracen Halton, true freshman David Stone, and fellow early enrollee Jayden Jackson.
The Sooners won’t have to rely as much on young guys going into one of the toughest conferences in NCAA football with Da’Jon Terry and Lole strengthening the interior. The younger, lighter d-lineman can adjust to life in the SEC by playing as rotation players rather than as the focal point of OU’s defensive front. Halton, Stone, and Jackson will probably still see the field.
Lole’s commitment was made just two days after he and a few other transfer portal targets attended Oklahoma’s spring game in Norman. After Saturday’s Red/White Game, the former Louisville and Arizona State defender, along with sought 2027 edge rusher Zane Rowe, is the third player to commit to the Sooners. The other two are former SMU center Branson Hickman and Hickman.
